Smart cameras to monitor traffic and crime planned for Dubai roads

Police to install smart cameras at locations across Dubai to monitor traffic and crime.

Smart cameras are to be installed at landmarks across Dubai over the next few days to monitor traffic and crime.

Brigadier Khalil Al Mansoori, the head of Dubai Police's CID, told the Arabic daily newspaper Al Ittihad that a special team was finalising the exact location of the devices, but that the cameras would cover "most" of the emirate's landmarks.

He added that the cameras would be installed "as per the law and without breach to privacy" and underlined the importance police attached to technology.

Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the Dubai police chief had earlier told the newspaper that the emirate had allocated Dh500 million to deploy "smart security cameras in various areas". He said there were about 25,000 cameras in Dubai.

Brig Al Mansoori said that the number of surveillance cameras in Dubai increased by 5 per cent per annum. The cameras, he added, played a major role in maintaining security without violating people's privacy.

Police relied on surveillance cameras in hotels, airports and supermarkets to level charges against 33 people from Europe and Australia suspected of involvement in the assassination of the Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Mabhouh at a Dubai hotel.